Wombourne cemetery flower head mystery
Flower heads are mysteriously vanishing from a graveyard with the council scratching their heads as to whether the culprits are vandals... or squirrels.
During the last few weeks, South Staffordshire Council have received a number of complaints for what they thought was deliberate damage to flowers placed on graves at the Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne.
However a member of the public suggested it could be squirrels who have been known to eat sweet headed flowers, such as chrysanthemums, at other graveyard's in the past.
A spokesman for South Staffordshire Council added: "During the last couple of weeks, South Staffordshire Council has received a complaint concerning what appears to be deliberate damage to flowers that have been left on some of the graves in the Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne.
"This is extremely upsetting for relatives and we are investigating what is causing the damage.
"It could be due to someone gaining access to the cemetery at night once the gates have been locked and snipping the heads off flowers but equally it could be due to wildlife eating and damaging the flowers.
"We are checking the perimeter of the cemetery to ensure it is secure and would encourage anyone affected by this damage to contact the council."
Due to the clean cut of the flower heads, the council assumed they were the result of vandals, however squirrels have been pictured eating flowers by other cemeteries in the past.
The council will be working with local Police Community Support Officer's patrolling the area, as well as council staff.
Contact the police on 101 or the council on 01902 696 000 if you have any information or see anyone acting suspiciously in the area.
